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Over the Counter
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Nasal Sprays
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 Over
the counter nasal
spray dependence may
be a new concept to
most people, but to
the millions of
nasal spray users,
this is a
well-hidden
by-product of a
seemingly innocuous
medicine. It is
estimated that one
out of four of the
over 50 million
nasal spray users
suffer from
dependence to this
product. The self
medicating starts
when patients
suffering from
chronic sinus
problems from nasal
obstruction or over
all congestion.
Beyond the
discomfort of not
being able to
breathe properly,
this condition can
also cause
headaches, lack of
sleep, and a lowered
resistance to
general sinus
infections. Companies
offering homeopathic
means to combat
congestion will
foster fears about
nasal sprays due to
their chemical
content of such
ingredients as
Phenylephrine,
Xylometazoline and
the most popular
Oxymetazoline,
touting that these
ingredients are not
only bad for your
body but can cause
addiction and
recurring symptoms
to worsen over time.
It does appear that
certain nasal
decongestants have
the potential to
damage sensitive
membranes inside the
nasal passages which
could lead to
chronic nose bleeds,
there is no general
consensus that
addiction is a side
effect.
According to the
Mayo Clinic, "You
cannot become
addicted to a nasal
spray. Addiction is
a compulsive
physiological need
for and use of a
habit-forming
substance known to
be physically,
psychologically or
socially harmful.
Over-the-counter
nasal sprays don't
contain any
habit-forming
ingredients, and
they don't cause the
compulsive cravings
that mark an
addiction. However,
it is possible to
develop a tolerance
to nasal sprays."
Interesting enough,
doctors, scientists
and psychiatrists
have different ways
to define addiction.
On the Scientists
and doctor side of
the coin, they'll
call a condition
addiction if the
drug stimulates the
pleasure center in
your brain.
Psychiatrists on the
other hand say
something is
addictive if your
need for it makes
you do illegal,
harmful things to
get it. Neither case
applies to the nasal
spray user. |
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Dependence
vs Addiction
Once we've
established
nasal spray
users are
not
conventional
addicts,
they still
suffer from
dependence
on an over
the counter
medication.
Most nasal
spray
packaging
will tell
the consumer
to limit
their use to
three days
in a row.
Otherwise a
condition
called
"rebound
congestion"
can ensue.
According to
How Stuff
Works,
"because
your body
launches a
biological
counterattack
against the
effects of a
drug. One
way it does
this is by
increasing
cellular
processes
and other
activities
that produce
the opposite
effect. In
the case of
decongestants,
the body
tries to
dilate the
nasal blood
vessels.
This cancels
out the
decongestant's
effect, and
the same
squeeze of
the bottle
that brought
you relief
before no
longer
helps." |
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